Apparatus for humidifying air



061 2. 6, 1931. A. GVDECKER 1,826,508

APPARATUS FOR HUMIDIFYING AIR Filed May 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 6 1931 DECKER I I 1,826,508 7 APPARATUS FOR HUMIDIFYING AIR I Filed May 13, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Oct. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES al-m;

ALONZC G. DECKER, F TOWSON, MARYLAND, AS SIG'NOB'v TO THE BLACK AND DECKER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF TOWSON, MARYLAND, ACORPORATION OF MARY- LAND APPARATUS FOR HUMIDIFYING AIR Application Med May 13, 1980. Serial No. 452,060.

This invention relates to a method and aparatus for humidifying and cooling the'alr 111 a room or building, and is particularly adapted for use as a small portable device, .5 which can be moved from place to place within a residence for varying the humidity in any particular room. Heretofore, efforts to vary the humidity in a residence have been confined largely to relatively large compli- 1o cated apparatus, which forms .an auxiliary equipment to the heating system. Such apparatus has necessarily been expensive and is not adapted for use except in connection with forced air ventilation systems.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a method for varying the temperature and humidity in a building or in any one room thereof independently of the character of heating system utilized therein. In addition, my invention contemplates the construction of a device, which is adapted for use either as a portable unityor as a'unitary part of a forced air heating system.

I carry out these objects y causing a mov- 25 ing current of air to flow through a moving film of water, whereby a large percentage of moisture is picked up by the air and is ejected into .the room or chamber in which .the unit is located. "I have shown difierent, 30 forms of apparatus for carrying out my method andI have illustrated itiin connection with a portable device, which may be made jsuificiently small. to rest upon a' radiator cover or upon a'wide window sill. 1 Referring to th drawings, Fig.

1 is a top plan view of a 'device embodying my in'- 'ventionrFig. 2 is' avertical section taken on the line 2 -2 in Fig.1; Figs. 3 'and4 are sections itaken onplanes indicated by thecorrespondingly numbered lines in: Fig. 2 and showing theremovable cover in place;Fig.'

1 fi-isa topplan view of ,a' modified form of my'device with the cover removed; Fig. 6 is 1 a vertical section taken on the'line 6-6 in fline7-7inFig.6.-.

Considering first the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4, lOindicates a reservoir in which air-adequate supply of water may be d maintained, the normal level of the water hethrough a film of water.

-Fig. and Fig. 7 is a section taken on the;

ing indicated at 11. The reservoir isin the nature of a relatively shallow pan having side portions 12 and 13, which extend upwardly, and provide a conduit through which the air may flow. A partition 15 extends across the conduit and supports a cowl 16,-.which is shown as an annular cup shaped member having a relatively small circular opening 17 at one end thereof, and a relatively large circular opening 18 at the other end thereof. A blower fan 19 is disposed within the cowl and is shown as being fixed to the armature shaft 20 of an electric motor 21. The motor in turn is supported on a base 22 within the conduit and adjacent one end thereof. 7 When the motor 1s in Operation, the air iscaused to enter the opening 17 and thence to pass through the fan and to be directed axially by the cowl through the opening 18. A removable cover 9 cooperates with the sides 12 and 13 to provide a conduit through which the air may flow. When the cover isremoved, the air passes out the top and when the cover is in place, the air passes out the end of the conduit.

My method for humidifying or cooling the air contemplates an arrangement whereby the moving current of air is caused to pass To this end, I may utilize a cylinder 25, of woven wire fabric. The cylinder is supported on a shaft 26, which in turn is journall'ed at 27 and 28 on an axis, which iswsubstantiall coincident to the axis of the armature s aft, but

between the walls 12 and 13, as. is shown in Fig. 2, and yet is, so placed that it dips into the water within the reservoir.

To efiect rotation of the cylinder when the fan is in operation, I may utllize a pneumatic :couple by providing fan. blades 30, which are shown as extending radially across the inlet end of the cylinder. Thus, as a moving current of air flows into the cylinder through the blades 30, it causes the cylinder to rotate slowly. The speedof rotation is previously determined by the shape of the blades and the size of. the parts, but I have found that satisfactory results can be obtained by utilizing a blower fan, which rotates three thousand revolutions per minute and a cylinder which rotates three revolutions per minute. 7

The inlet end of the cylinder 1s shown, as

I having a drum 31, which extends over the 'voir.

this, comprises an arm 35which is pivotally mounted as at 36 on a bracket Within the reser- One end 37 of the arm carries a float 38, and the other end 39v carries a brake shoe in Figs. 5 to 7, wherein the reservoir is 40, which is adapted to engage the drum. Thus, as the water level in the reservoir drops, the tendency for the speed of the cylinder to increase is counteracted by additional pressure which is exerted on the drum by the shoe.

While'I have shown the cylinder, as comprising a single layer of screen, I may if desired, use a plurality of cylindrical screens, which are concentrically arranged and spaced a slight distance apart. An arrangement having two' of such screens is shown at 25a in Fig. 2. To force air through the screen, I have illustrated a cone-shaped baflle 41 at the end remote from the blower fan. The outer periphery of such baflie may be utilized as a form upon which the screen. may be mounted.

.. If desired, an electrically operated heating element 45 may be arranged to extend. into the reservoir for heating the water to facilitate evaporation thereof. This will then operate eiiectively to increase the humidity at a faster rate.

A modification of my invention is shown shown at 10a, the sides at 12a and 13a respectively, the cover at 9a, and the fan at 19a.

In this modified form, thescreen comprisesv endless belts 51, each of which is arranged to pass around a drum 52 and-over guide sheaves 53 and 54. The drums extend below 'the' level of the water and so a film is picked up by the belts as they pass around the drums. To 'operate the belts while-thefan is in motion,'I

have shown a mechanical connection between the motor andthe drums. This may take the form of a belt 55, which connects a .driving pulley 56 to a driven, pulley 57. The

armature shaft-of the motor may be suitably geared by reduction gearing to the driving pulley. Similarly-,2. belt 58 may be used for operatively connecting apulley 59 on the drum' shaft 60 to a pulley 61 on the drum shaft for the second drum. With this arrangement, the moisture carrying belts are caused to move transversely to the path of ness in weight, and a high degree of operating efliciency.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: r

1. A device of the character described, comprising in combination, a reservoir having Water therein, a motor driven fan arranged to cause a moving current of air to flow across the water in the reservoir, means disposed in the path of the current of air and adapted to be moved through the water when the fan is in operation, and mechanism for automatically maintaining auniform degree of movementof said means notwithstanding variations of the level of the water in the reservoir.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a reservoir having water therein, ofa motor driven fan for causing a moving current of air to flowvacross the water, a hollow member 'rotatably mounted above the reservoir, and adapted to extend intothe water therein, and to be rotated when the fan is in operation, whereby a film of water is raised from the reservoir, and float actuated means acting upon said member to the combination with areservoir having water therein,of a motor driven fan arranged to cause a moving current of air to flow across the water, a cyllndrlcal screen mounted for rotation above the reservoirwhen the fan isv inoperat on, and float actuated brake mechanism acting upon the cylinderto maintain a substantially uniform rotative speed of the the cylinder consequent upon variations of the level of water in the reservoir;

4.1m a device efthe character described, the combination of areservoir having water therein, a cylindrical screen rotatably mounted above the reservoir so that a portion of the screen is immersed in the water, a fan for causing a current of air toflow through the cylindrical screen, a pneumatic couple -between the fan and screen adapted to-rotate the screen'at a predetermined speed when the fan is runat a constant speed and means to substantially maintain the predetermined speed of the screen,with the fanspeed remainmg Constantmotwithstanding variations in the level of the water the reservoir, said means comprising a brake drum in fixed relation with said screen, a pivoted member, a brake shoe adapted to act against said brake drum, the brake shoe being secured to one end of said pivoted member and a float secured to the opposite end of said pivoted member, whereby, as the water in the reservoir drops, due to evaporation, the float drops with it, causing by means of the pivoted member and brake shoe a braking action upon the screen drum, equal to the amount of the resistance the evaporated water would have caused to the rotation of the cylindrical screen.

In testimony whereofiI hereunto afiix my signature.

ALONZO G. DECKER. 

